It seems hard to believe that we are now almost six weeks on from our last email in early April. As you will appreciate time has flown for us as we have been forced to work remotely with a reduced team while trying to ensure continuity of services for our clients.
I am sure that this has not been the case for everyone, many will have found time to pick up hobbies or try something new but for others, this time has been overwhelming causing much anxiety and stress. Like the virus, this situation affects everyone differently and our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected around the globe.
We have deliberately kept our communications to a minimum in consideration of the fact that everyone is being flooded with information about COVID-19 from every side. We made the decision to only email with helpful or critical information in relation to our services and not repeat Government advice. However, we do not want to give the impression we are no longer open for business - we just want to help you “see the wood for the trees” in your inbox. Rest assured we will continue to observe the guidelines and preserve the safety of both our clients and staff.
We will continue to tailor our approach throughout the coming weeks and will communicate with you regarding any important updates or should anything change. We will be issuing a short report early next week explaining how we are looking to adapt our business and work with our clients moving forwards.
We previously told you that many of our advisers are on furlough. In the meantime our Directors, Lee, Simon and Tim are available should you need any advice or have any concerns. Our administration teams continue to work from home and are on hand to answer your queries; it is important to us that you can still talk to a member of our valued team.
You can access your investment portfolio via our client portal where you can obtain valuations, we would ask you to read the notes on the portal in respect of pricing. If you do not already have access to the portal or need to re-set your password please contact Adam Gardiner who will be happy to assist you.
We would like to thank our clients for being patient with us and appreciating that currently returning calls can take us a little longer than usual.
In relation to the property syndicates, we have been in communication with members to keep them informed of the latest positions. A number of tenants are able to pay their rent. However, a fair number, mainly in the retail and leisure sectors, have been unable to fulfil their rent commitments and have either requested a rental holiday or a deferment due to the crisis. It is currently still too early to enter into agreements with the tenants, who in many instances are experiencing genuine difficulties with zero income due to the Government lockdown. A collaborative approach that helps to keep a business on its feet during these unprecedented times will, in our view, be the best way forward.
We will continue to talk with the tenants and keep members appraised of the situation and as always members will be asked to vote on their agreement to any proposals.
As we navigate through these challenging times, we are reminded of how fortunate we are to be part of a community prepared to come together to support the greater good. Let’s hope we remember the lessons learned and use this experience to strengthen our country in the coming years.
We wish you, your teams and your loved ones health and safety.
Very best wishes
Tim Lewis
